What I Ate and Asia Health Summit 2015

Asia Health Summit

What an exciting week it’s been!

I’m late with my “What I Ate” post because I’ve been preparing for my presentation at the 2015 Asia Health Summit, an Asia CEO Forum event, at which I was honored to be a speaker for the 2nd year in a row.  Presented by Healthway Medical, this all-day conference features physicians, health insurers, corporate wellness specialists, the Philippines Olympic Athletic Trainer, and other prominent health professionals.

Asia Health Summit
During the panel discussion…

And me.  How cool is that?

Morning coffee & quiet time...
Morning coffee & quiet time…

The theme of this year’s conference was: “Next Generation Preventive Health,” and I addressed it in my presentation by pointing out 5 steps we can take to move towards better health through better nutrition.  Wanna hear?

Breakfast: smoothie with spinach, cucumber, mint, frozen pineapple & almond milk
Breakfast: smoothie with spinach, cucumber, mint, frozen pineapple & almond milk

Step 1. Ditch the Sugar: refined white sugar comes in just about every processed food product you can imagine, from the obvious soda, to yogurt and ketchup and instant oatmeal and bread.  The more added sugar we eat, the more we crave it.  The only way to kill the craving is to reduce your intake, no way around it.  Replace sugary drinks and sodas with water- flavor it with fruit slices!  Find recipes for treats with less sugar & natural sweeteners (like dates!).  Check out the ones on this blog as well as Jack’s Balancing Act & Hummusapien– 2 bloggers that I truly trust for solid advice and fabulous recipes.

Breakfast #2: Ezekiel cinnamon raisin English muffin with almond butter & honey, fruit on the side
Breakfast #2: Ezekiel cinnamon raisin English muffin with almond butter & honey, fruit on the side

Step 2. Fill up on Fiber: fiber is good for you for so many reasons!  It makes you feel full before you’ve eaten too many calories.  It keeps your digestive system healthy.  It can reduce your risk of colon cancer.  And the foods that are high in fiber also come with a ton of  other beneficial nutrients.  But please, people, get your fiber from foods and not from a supplement.  Think whole grains (quinoa, whole oats, barley, millet, brown rice), legumes, seeds, veggies, & fruits to increase your fiber intake.  If you don’t currently have a lot of fiber in your diet, take my advice and start slowly.  And be sure to drink a lot of water…

Asian salmon salad
I demo’d this Asian salmon salad during lunchtime to show how easy it is to make packable foods to bring for lunch. And this was my lunch!

Step 3. Eat your Veggies!: Just like your mama always tol’ you…   There is everything good and nothing bad about veggies!!  They are full of vitamins, anti-oxidants, phytochemicals, & fiber to keep you healthy & reduce your risk of every chronic disease.  Eat as many colors of veggies as possible and as lightly cooked as practical.  Fill your plate with them at as many meals as possible.  Whip them into smoothies, hide them in brownies, eat plates & plates of them with your whole grains & legumes.

Trail mix
I stuck some trail mix in a tupperware to snack on during the sessions…

Step 4. Reduce your Meat Intake: and I mean a lot. People typically eat way too much protein, and too much of it comes from animals.  We only need 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight.  That’s not a lot, folks!  We might need a bit more if we’re working out intensely and frequently, but most people don’t.  And protein needs can be easily met with legumes, whole grains & vegetables.  While not everyone needs to be vegan, not everyone needs to eat meat 3 times a day either.  Start with a vegetarian breakfast or lunch, and move to “Meatless Monday” dinner… then go for a vegetarian day 3-4 times per week.  See how amazing you feel!

... and a homemade trail mix cookie...
… and a homemade trail mix cookie…

Step 5. Ditch Fast & Street Food: this might be the most important thing you can do for your health.  When was the last time you saw a vegetable in your fast-food meal??  And I’m sorry, but limp lettuce and pale tomatoes do not count!  Fast food is full of MSG, saturated fat, sodium, and poor-quality meat, not to mention all the additives, ahem… added…  to do a multitude of things to your chicken nuggets and burgers.  No thank you!  So what is the solution to your daytime hunger dilemma? Just pack it!  Your lunch, I mean.  Or snacks.  I always have a couple of little tupperwares of almonds and dried fruit and homemade cookies in my purse.  And for lunch, dinner leftovers are the perfect thing- just pack it up as you’re putting the rest away.

Quinoa lentil burger, camote, salad
Dinner at home: quinoa lentil burger with tomato chili jam, steamed camote, and salad with dried cranberries

It takes a little planning, a little advance thought, to do these things I’m proposing.  But the time it takes is SO worth it in terms of your health… not only how you look, but even more importantly, how you feel.

Yup, Mama’s up on the soapbox today, as my kids would put it!  And there is just so much more to be said on good nutrition and a healthy diet.  But it can’t all be said in one day, one presentation, or certainly one blog post… and thank goodness for that!

Happy weekend, everyone!

4 thoughts on “What I Ate and Asia Health Summit 2015”

  1. Hi Bex!
    Super love your menu.
    Can you share with me your recipes for the Ezekiel cinnamon muffin and the Asian salmon salad?
    So proud you were part of the Health Summiy!
    Best,
    Menchu

    1. Hi Menchu, the Ezekiel English muffin is just from Healthy Options freezer section, haha! 😉 Super good though, just spread almond butter & honey on it. I’m gonna be posting my Asian salmon salad VERY soon, it is so yummy & easy! 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comments! xx

  2. Aw thanks for the sweet words about my blog!! And congratulations on being a speaker – that’s such a neat opportunity. I so wish I could have heard you 🙂 But judging by your tips, I’m sure it was a great presentation. Also, YUM! Love love love the looks of the Asian Salmon Salad!

    1. Not many blogs I would say that about, Jacklyn, but yours is definitely one of the tops!! And thanks for your sweet comments too! 🙂 It was a very fun & inspiring day. I’ll be posting the salmon salad soon… it is SO easy & yummy!

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